Event Marketing Strategies
Events are at the heart of Complete Real Estate Group’s efforts to connect with past, current and future clients. Whether it’s throwing a tailgate party for their sphere or sponsoring a local meetup, the team works together to create a meaningful experience.
“We are a small, close-knit group of 12 agents, and we host many events together throughout the year,” says team lead Maria Astorino-Lundin.
Complete Real Estate Group closed 200 transactions in 2018, earning the team a ranking on America’s Best Real Estate Professionals list. They are ranked in Nebraska as the No. 9 Team By Side and No. 12 Team By Volume.
Here’s their strategy:
Game On
University of Nebraska football games are a big deal for fans. “Everyone loves the Huskers,” says Astorino-Lundin. Her team invites up to 20 people for each event and on home game days they head down to Lincoln to secure a prime tailgating spot. “We provide food and drinks and set up a TV to watch the game. In the spring, we do a March Madness event to kick off the [annual NCAA college basketball tournament]. We keep our events small so that we can get quality one-on-one time with our sphere and people won’t get lost in the crowd.”
Support Community Events
The team invests time and money to advertise and participate in events at nearby Offutt Air Force Base. “Two agents are consistently there,” says Astorino-Lundin. “We bring in food for their monthly trivia events at the Raiders Lounge, which is a smaller venue. We also do their Color Fun Run, their Red, White & Blue Celebration and their Halloween event.”
Avoid the Same Old, Same Old
“It’s important to pick up the phone and invite new people to each event,” says Astorino-Lundin. “Sometimes we will do family-oriented events like a picnic for the kids or church events. We do raffles or set up a wheel that people can spin. It’s a good way to get their name and number. We also bring swag such as ice bags, koozies, pens, magnets, tote bags, sunglasses, cups, golf towels or keychain bottle openers.”
Have Fun
Engaging team members keeps everyone happy and creates camaraderie, says Astorino-Lundin. “Who doesn’t dread going over stats and problems on Monday mornings? At team meetings, we like to talk about what we did over the weekend or plan an event. One of our team leads has a pool and we meet there in the summer and have a cookout and go swimming.”
The family vibe helps the team retain long-term agents. “We also have a friendly competition among our agents,” Astorino-Lundin says. “The agents with the most units and highest production from August to July get a free trip to the NAR Convention & Expo. “It includes hotel, airfare and admission ticket—and we take them to dinner a few times. We like to reinvest back into our team. We don’t always look at how much an agent is making us—we look at the value they bring.”
